Miss Universe NZ refuses to step aside

Miss Universe New Zealand, Avianca Bohm, grew up in South Africa. The 22-year-old is a New Zealand resident but not yet a citizen. She has sought legal advice in an attempt to continue her reign. Photo / Sarah Ivey.

The winner of Miss Universe New Zealand has called in lawyers after being told to give up her tiara by organisers.

The Herald understands director Val Lott has delivered a letter to 22-year-old Avianca Bohm, who was crowned this month, advising her that she is ineligible to represent New Zealand.

She also held a meeting with Ms Bohm in an effort to persuade her to quietly give up her title.

This year's beauty pageant quickly turned ugly when it emerged Ms Bohm, who was born in South Africa, does not have New Zealand citizenship.

Yesterday neither Ms Lott nor Ms Bohm could be contacted.

But the regional licensee of Miss North Harbour, Melissa Martin, welcomed the decision, which would crown runner-up and Miss North Harbour Talia Bennett.

"The young woman is just ineligible to hold the title. It's not a witch hunt," she said.

"It's right and wrong. It's black and white - there's no grey area here."

However, Ms Bohm has sought legal advice in an attempt to continue her reign and has the backing of the competition's head judge, Jack Yan.

"The impression I've been getting ... is that as long as Avianca arrives at Miss Universe with a New Zealand passport, she's fine," Mr Yan said.

He said yesterday that he understood the process to speed up her citizenship was under way.

"From what I understand it will be [successful], because the exact same circumstances happened with Miss World New Zealand 2011."

Department of Internal Affairs spokesman Tony Wallace said he could not comment on individual applications for citizenship.

However, the citizenship office does urgently process applications on humanitarian grounds or in cases where urgency is required in order to represent New Zealand.